On 4/29/2012 5:49 AM, dadiOH wrote:
The log house which my wife wound up with after her mother died - and into
which we have been pouring money, lo, these many months - is now ready to
sell or rent. Given the market, it is most likely to be rented. I have
only rented two unfurnished apartments in my life and that was years ago.

The first was totally bare...no stove, no fridge, no drapes, no nothing.

The second had drapes - rather nice ones - and a stove but no fridge.

Having no experience as either a renter or landlord, I would appreciate
knowing what you would expect if you were looking to rent an unfurnished
house.

Drapes?
Stove?
Microwave?
Dishwasher?
Fridge?
Washer& dryer?
Washer and dryer hookups only?
Anything else?

I'd also appreciate knowing if you would expect to do any of these yourself.
Change air filters? Buy them?
Maintain salt level in water softener? Buy the salt?
Cut the grass?
What other maintenance or repair?

Thanks for your time



Kansas landlord here. We typically will equip a house as follows:

Stove,
Dishwasher (if there was a place for one) But i have purchased one
portable for one of our properties.
Washer and dryer hookups only


Air filters come as a gray area to me. It's in the best interest of the
equipment to change them regularly, but it's also in the contract that
the tenant will take care of regular maintenance items. So far, all my
tenants have been good about changing them. As for the whole house
waterfilters, i supply the replacement elements, as our area has some
real old iron lines and rust is a problem. I figure a couple bucks
twice a year help extend the life of the water heaters. No water
softeners here, but if there were one, i'd expect them to buy that
product needed. Of course mowing is the tenants responsibility. This is
not a maintainance provided operation. Here's my paragraph #20 in our
contract:

20. Maintenance and Repair. Lessee will, at his sole expense, keep and
maintain the leased premises and appurtenances in good and sanitary
condition and repair during the term of this lease and any renewal
thereof. In particular, Lessee shall keep the fixtures in the house or
on or about the leased premises in good order and repair; keep the
furnace clean; keep the electric bills in order; keep the walks free
from dirt and debris; and, at his sole expense, shall make all required
repairs to the plumbing, range, heating, apparatus, and electric and gas
fixtures whenever damage thereto shall have resulted from Lessee’s
misuse, waste, or neglect or that of his employee, family, agent, or
visitor. Major maintenance and repair of the leased premises, not due to
Lessee’s misuse, waste, or neglect or that of his employee, family,
agent, or visitor, shall be the responsibility of Lessor or his assigns.
Lessee agrees that no signs shall be placed or painting done on or about
the leased premises by Lessee or at his direction without the prior
written consent of Lessor.
--
Steve Barker
remove the "not" from my address to email